Welcome

Welcome to the POZ/AIDSmeds Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and
others concerned about HIV/AIDS. Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the
conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning: Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive
and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a
username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own
physician.

All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators
of these forums. Click here for “Am I Infected?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ/AIDSmeds community forums.

We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please
provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are
true and correct to their knowledge.

Author
Topic: Hello All...glad I came across this site. (Read 11956 times)

Good Day...I hope you all are staying cool if there is a heat wave going on in your neck of the woods. There definitely is here in the Portland, Or. area.

Well finally after a year and a half I finally decided to get serious about taking meds. I know it's not a good idea but man the first set of meds I was given made me sick, made me trip and made me sh** all the time. Just coming from the "party scene" I really wanted to sober up. So I stopped taking them.

I came home and visited the VA, since I don't have a job yet and for the last month I've been taking the following medications: Truvada, Kaletra and Sulfameth. Recently one of the Truvada "side effects", as listed by WebMd, has really put a damper on my taste buds. Oh my god everything can taste horrible somedays and it's like almost 80% of the taste of something tastes the same no matter what I eat. It's been going on for nearly two weeks. The only thing that fully tastes like itself is Hershey's Chocolate syrup.

Will this go away...it says it's only a side effect? I don't have thrush, already took care of that a few weeks ago.

I can't commment on your taste problems as I haven't taken the drugs you are on. However, there is a drug section of this website that might give you better information. Check out the Welcome thread at the top of this forum where you'll find links to all sorts of other offerings on this website. This place - forums included - is a goldmine of information.

Looking forward to hearing more from you soon, and I hope your taste buds soon settle down and get back to normal.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

First Brian let me give you a big welcome. Sounds like you just recently started back on your meds. It takes the body time to adjust to the powerful little suckers. Hopefully you will be feeling better soon, or maybe you and your doc will decide to do some med adjustment. Keep you doctor informed.

We're glad you came across the site too, Brian. And that you have spoken up.

Regarding your taste buds not being at their usual, I also suggest you mention it to your doctor. Because you're so new to these powerful meds this might very well just be a part of your personal period of adjustment.

I We know what you mean about the side effects, they suck! At first I started out without too much problem, but then the trots started getting more frequent. I just now include two generic Immodium pills with my doses in the AM and PM. Just another pill, and a real small one!

Welcome! I am glad you found us and hope you stick around and make yourself at home.

Regarding your meds, I haven't taken any of them, so I can't really say anything other than what already has been suggested.

I'm still taking AZT, 3TC and Crixivan. Yep, an old med regimen for an old fart! (LOL)

I live in Northwest New Mexico. Its been a tad toasty, upper 90s to low 100s. The bad part is the humidity has been up to 50 percent recently. UGH! But, what's a guy to do beside get naked (at home) and loll in front of the evaporative cooler.

Again, welcome and I look forward to hearing more from you. By the way, I love the eye of Horus you have.

poznoregon

Hey Brian welcome to the group. I'm suffering along with you in this heat. It was hot even when I was hanging out at the pool earlier today. I take truvada but have not had the side effects you are mentioning. I hope it is only temporary for you.

Welcome to the forums ! I've found our 'family' to be kind, humorous, caring and compassionate. I'll look for to hearing more from you. I live on the southeast part of Australia where it's winter. It been cool to cold and a bit too dry lately.

Hey Brian...Welcome to the family, Good Buddy! I suspect you will find this to be a great place for info and support...and in the days to come it will be a great comfort. Like others I can't comment on the particular med's you're taking but I wanted to welcome you to the family.

All the meds (Kaletra, Truvada and the sulphameth) can causes changes in taste sensation! If the problem is worst with liquids (drinks, soups etc) its prob. the sulphameth rather than the anti-retrovirals.

Thanks to all who have responded so far! I appreciate all the information that's been posted. Before I got here, I though once you got HIV/AIDS you take go to the doctor, get loaded with drugs, take those daily and pray to the higher being. I just sat down with my mom and we watched Philadelphia together. Of course we both were trying to hide our cry at the end. Anyways, I can't believe the management of the drugs you have to do.

Brian let me add my welcome to the forum......sorry to hear about your "taste" problem It is bad enough to have the shits and other problems but the taste thing is new to me....... I can tell you when I started 12 yrs ago the meds available were pretty harsh and the side effects were also.. I had the shits so bad that nothing except the "Tincture of Opium " would stop them.....this is an old fashion remedy and most drug stores don't carry it but will order it for you...of course you need a script from DR to get it.......if you dont improve in a week or so ask DR dont let it go too long or you screw up your whole system even worse than it already is. If you have looked at some of the other postings on the site you will see one about Lipodystrophy.......read the various comments from people who have been affected by this and consider the possibility of these effects being exaggerated by your meds.....some meds seem to really aggravate this problem.......I and others have gone to various "filler" techniques to overcome the results of the Lypo ...the best thing is to try to avoid it as much as possible.......Welcome again......there is lots of good info here and one of the best collections of real world experience to be found anywhere

Hi Brian, Adding my welcome also. As you said in your second post, treating HIV is a lot more than just seeing a doctor and taking meds. It becomes a job of sorts. Like any new job, it takes time to adapt to the new environment, learn the lingo, and feel confident. Sounds like you're doing the work, checking things out and empowering yourself with knowledge. Glad you're here and wish you the best.

Hello Brian it is Eldon. When I started my meds back in Feb 2006, I had no taste at all whatsoever. Over time it took care of itself and now I can sit back and enjoy the savor of a well cooked meal. I'm not taking what you are taking though. i'm on Epzicom and Reyetaz.

Recently one of the Truvada "side effects", as listed by WebMd, has really put a damper on my taste buds. Oh my god everything can taste horrible somedays and it's like almost 80% of the taste of something tastes the same no matter what I eat. It's been going on for nearly two weeks. The only thing that fully tastes like itself is Hershey's Chocolate syrup.

Will this go away...it says it's only a side effect? I don't have thrush, already took care of that a few weeks ago.

I'd appreciate any feedback

[/quote]

I would blame the Kaletra. When I started it back in October, the first month or so everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, tasted horrible, even stuff I love. It was all I could do to force down two or three bites of whatever. Thanksgiving sucked, but I got my tastebuds back for Christmas. This is truly one of the most messed-up HAART side-effects. Green leafy helps a little, if that is not a problem for you. Or, if it is, green tea helps a little if you can get it down.

Hang in there, dude. And welcome! And, I agree with Mark about your Eye of Horus!

J.R.(Pharaoh and CotN freak!)

Logged

It goes like thisThe fourth, the fifth,The minor fall, the major lift,The baffled king composing Hallelujah!

Brian welcome... Stay the course and see how things pan out... I am a K boy and never had any of the taste issues, but the "mistaking a fart for something else" has happened a few times... Glad you found the forums my friend..

Hi Brian and welcome. For me side effects were very pronounced in the first 2 weeks of starting meds. For alot of people, the body 'adjusts' - I'd say I was one of those people. Hoping the best for you